Red Sox get their man  hire Farrell

According to a report late Saturday, Boston has come to terms with Toronto’s John Farrell to become the 46th manager in Red Sox history.

By TIM BRITTON

BOSTON — The Red Sox got their man.

Boston on Sunday afternoon confirmed reports that it has come to terms with Toronto's John Farrell to become the 46th manager in Red Sox history. The two sides have agreed to a three-year deal through the 2015 season.

Farrell was under contract with the Blue Jays through the 2013 season. As compensation for Toronto's releasing Farrell from his contract, the Red Sox are sending veteran infielder Mike Aviles to the Blue Jays. Toronto will also send David Carpenter, a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher, to the Red Sox. Carpenter has a 1-5 record and a 5.70 ERA in 67 career appearances (all in relief) for Toronto and Houston.

Farrell has been the frontrunner to succeed Bobby Valentine since Valentine was fired on Oct. 4, if not before. He returns to the organization in which he served as a successful pitching coach for four years prior to landing his first managerial job in 2011 with Toronto.

"I'm extremely excited to be returning to the Red Sox and to Boston," Farrell said, according to a team news release. "I love this organization. It's a great franchise in a special city and region, with great fans, and we want nothing more than to reward their faith in us."

During his two seasons with the Blue Jays, Farrell posted a 154-170 record with a pair of fourth-place finishes. Toronto appeared more willing to allow Farrell to walk after a 73-89 campaign last season than it was following his 81-81 debut in 2011.

"We are thrilled to name John Farrell as our new manager," said general manager Ben Cherington, according to the team news release. "John has been a major league pitcher, front office executive, coach, and manager. His broad set of experiences, and exceptional leadership skills, make him the ideal person to lead our team. I have known him in various capacities throughout my career, and I hold him in the highest regard as a baseball man and as a person."

The Sox coveted Farrell for a variety of reasons. First, he has a familiarity with the organization dating to his time as the team’s pitching coach from 2007 to 2010. After a season that saw Valentine struggle to work with members of the front office, the coaching staff and his own players, Farrell brings with him instant credibility in the Boston clubhouse.

Second, Farrell’s expertise overlaps with the team’s greatest current weakness: the starting rotation. Both Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz came of age under Farrell’s tutelage, and they both had their best seasons in 2010, before Farrell’s departure. Lester, in particular, struggled mightily this past season.

Also, Farrell comes from a player-development background, dating to his time as the farm coordinator for the Cleveland Indians, from 2001 to 2006. During that time, he worked closely with current Red Sox assistant general manager Mike Hazen.

Farrell does not come without questions. The Blue Jays won 86 games the year prior to his arrival; their win total decreased in each of his two seasons. The pitching staff, even accounting for injuries, did not perform up to par, specifically left-hander Ricky Romero. And concerns about Farrell’s ability to discipline the younger core of his team arose late in the year, when shortstop Yunel Escobar was suspended for wearing eye black containing a homophobic slur. The typically reserved Omar Vizquel was outspoken in his criticism of the coaching staff as a whole in September.

It is clear, however, that Farrell has been the focal point of Boston’s search since the start of the offseason. Once negotiations reportedly started this week, his hiring became an inevitability.

On the day Valentine was fired, Cherington stressed that Boston was looking in a different direction this offseason.

“The right person for the Red Sox for 2013 and beyond is not necessarily the right person for someone else and may not have been the right person for us five years ago,” Cherington said. “We need to find out who that person is to help build some stability in that office and find somebody who can work in a collaborative way with ownership, myself, baseball ops, the players, to push this organization forward and restore it to where it should be.”

Boston’s deal with Farrell came late on Saturday — roughly six weeks earlier than the date they hired Valentine last winter. In fact, Cherington had yet to be hired as general manager 366 days ago. Thus, Farrell should have ample time to build a cohesive coaching staff to his liking — something Valentine was not necessarily afforded last winter.